Allegations fly in IFA AGM

Kolkata, May 4: The Indian Football Association (IFA) today entered the now familiar turf of intra-factional trouble with allegations of the sports body running into a debt trap of Rs one crore and the current regime rubbishing the same.

During the IFA AGM here today, a representative of the rival faction from the Victoria Sports Club said the IFA had a debt of Rs one crore in the market. He further alleged that dues of approximately Rs 37 lakhs were still pending from the Nehru Gold Cup held in 1987, Rs four lakh was due to the Refree's Association and other dues amounting to lakhs of rupees to different hotels.

A former IFA secretary Ranjit Gupta alleged, ''IFA has pending dues of over Rs one crore which is really sad.'' Meanwhile, current IFA general secretary Subroto Dutta lashed out at the allegations. He told UNI, ''The allegations brought by Mr Ranjit Gupta were out of jealousy and with a malicious intent''

Mr Subroto Dutta said, ''Which organisation in the world does not have dues in the market. The matter is during the AGM, I have shown the audited accounts which clearly show a 2.99 lakh profit, inspite of getting only one payment from ESPN'' ''We get 1.40 crores from ESPN every year but this year inspite of a shortfall of Rs 75 lakhs, we have made up the deficit by arranging sponsors and making a profit,'' Mr Dutta said.

Mr Dutta added, '' Besides Nehru Gold Cup was held in 1987 and after that Mr Gupta was the secretary for eight years running. He did not do anything to clear the debts''.

He further said IFA is a healthy organisation and will continue to remain so.

UNI